1
as in strict
given to exacting standards of discipline and self-restraint
the army post's stern commander always had the utmost respect of those who served under him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gruff
harsh and threatening in manner or appearance
a stern receptionist took our names without even looking up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stern
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 6 May 2026
His father, a billboard magnate, was a stern man who would whip his son with a razor strap for stepping out of line, but the youngster refused to capitulate to his dad’s authority.
—Paul Bond, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
This gave me time to enjoy the adult-only areas of the ship, which includes a stunning pool deck with uninterrupted sea views from the stern.
—Helen Wright, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stern
Adjective
Yet Gilgeous-Alexander’s own diagnosis of his night, stern and accountable, showed no trace of concern.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 6 May 2026
His father, a billboard magnate, was a stern man who would whip his son with a razor strap for stepping out of line, but the youngster refused to capitulate to his dad’s authority.
—Paul Bond, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Noun
As the ship was passing through the strait, its stern was hit, causing a fire in the engine room, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Pipat Ratchakitprakarn.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
This gave me time to enjoy the adult-only areas of the ship, which includes a stunning pool deck with uninterrupted sea views from the stern.
—Helen Wright, TheWeek, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stern
Adjective
-
If strict fidelity gets in the way, it can be treated as immaterial.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Employees who once rejected office culture are now returning to in-person roles, accepting stricter employer demands, delaying entrepreneurial goals, or remaining in emotionally exhausting workplaces because financial risks feel too high.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the grizzled former Man in Black and man-who-failed-to-ground-Maverick isn’t known for playing the type of gruff ol’ cowpoke who’s about to break into song.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
-
The son of a Scottish immigrant, McCluskie had a reputation as a political street fighter and his gruff style complemented Becerra’s more measured, cerebral approach.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
It was designed in such a way that it would be comprised of six lattice-like beams, which were prestressed end-to-end.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Western automakers have spent years trickling pixel-headlight features out cautiously, partly because regulations in markets like the US have historically been slow to allow adaptive driving beams in the first place.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
-
To fully embody her OnlyFans persona, an earthside alien named The Hungry Ghost, who offers mild nudity and harsh criticism of her willing subscribers’ genitalia.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Juventus was roundly jeered after losing 2-0 at home to fierce rivals Fiorentina, while Como held on for a 1-0 win over Parma to leave Cesc Fàbregas’ team still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League just seven years after playing in Italy's fourth division.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
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In the remote native villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, on the coast of the Bering Sea, Halong’s fierce flooding lifted homes off their foundations and carried them down a river with people still inside.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Given the authoritarian nature of the government and its control of the media, the full, brutal extent of these crackdowns are never seen by those inside the country, much less by foreigners.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
But from the outside, there are some grim signs.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
-
This is the group's latest effort to underscore the grim living conditions of nearly 2 million Palestinians in the coastal territory, suffering from severe shortages of housing, food, and medicine.—
May 19,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stern. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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